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After last week's disappointing performance against the Japanese team, the head coach told his Ireland squad to step up their performance.

The team listened right away.

Ireland had faded late against the All Blacks and taken considerable time to get going versus Japan.

However, against Australia, they started strongly, with Mack Hansen shining brightest during a 46-19 victory that marked Ireland's finest performance this year.

In his first test match start at the number 15 position, Hansen scored a three tries, contested brilliantly for aerial challenges and performed exceptionally against the nation of his birth.

"You know, I've had a pretty challenging period with injuries really," the athlete stated.

"I longed for being in this team, I understand there's much discussion about me not necessarily being raised here and I didn't grow up here, but I adore this group and this feels like family.

"Any time I get to play for the national team it's a honor, if you fail to deliver a performance you may not get that opportunity again.

"My whole approach this period was to go out and perform what I can do."

Coach stated: 'Good players require no justifications'

Following 28 appearances on the wing, Hansen was entrusted the full-back position for the first time with multiple players injured.

For him, it was simply a case of continuing where he left off during the warmer months.

The experienced player had been in superb form before injury disrupted his dream of making the Test squad.

After come back recently, he developed a foot injury that ruled him out for previous fixtures.

Farrell had suggested that Hansen was especially motivated and these turned out to be not empty words as the former provincial player gave his coach a positive team headache for future games.

"So my initial thoughts were, 'You need to perform excellently in those different coloured boots!'," commented Farrell, referring to the player's decision to sport different footwear.

"Actually I believed that was fitting but it seems Mack just did that personally regardless. So he's attracted attention to himself before he's even begun.

"I told to him before the game, 'Good athletes don't need excuses, they can get on with it and just be themselves, you can get the man of the match if you want,' and he responded, 'Yeah, I concur.'

"So he's that type of player, he prepares well, he's has a excellent approach to get across his detail and so that's why he slotted right into the team and he was able to be himself because of that."

Hansen's performance also earned commendation from the opposing coach, who remarked he was the "standout Australian player" on the night.

"In my view he was super, his knowledge showed to the front," said the ex- national coach.

"Unfortunately, Hansen was probably the best opposition performer on the field. He's got a great ability and he's such a good contender."

When asked about what enables Hansen a strong option at the number 15 position, Farrell added: "Showing up in the middle of the field is something that he does from the wing regardless, but I suppose he's more in place for that frequently.

"The player's high ball play was brilliant, wasn't it? I thought we didn't get bored of doing the correct thing and that was putting the ball again on them to secure territory.

"The reason that was the right thing to do is because it's the players of Hansen who was securing the possessions returned, and other teammates, so [it's] quite pleasing."

Outside Hansen, there were numerous positives for the coach.

Sam Prendergast was outstanding on his return to the number 10 position, the scrum and throw-in operated effectively and different player did not look uncomfortable in his first start in the front row.

But possibly more satisfying for the manager was Ireland bookending the game with two strong periods.

The player's first couple of tries occurred in the first 11 moments while other players scored in the closing stages after the opposition had crossed, guaranteeing the home side concluded on a positive note.

"In my opinion we really performed freely and approached the game right from the word go," stated Farrell.

"The way we managed various aspects throughout the match, especially them coming back just before half-time and reorganizing ourselves and giving a display like we achieved in the second half, I believed as far as territory and being familiar with the majority of our strategy in that second half was really satisfying."

The might of the Springboks are awaiting for Ireland, in what could be viewed as an unofficial decider to the previous season's tied multiple match series on rival soil.

The coach's team will require to reach a higher standard to beat the back-to-back world champions, but Saturday's defeat of the Wallabies was a important advancement in the correct path after an disappointing start to their fall schedule.